Witchblade (2024) #1

by Marguerite Bennett, Giuseppe Cafaro (artist), Arif Prianto (artist)

SERIES PREMIERE
Sara Pezzini is back in an all-new origin story! A reimagining of the classic storyline, this high-octane supernatural thriller starts at the beginning with familiar characters and new story arcs.
New York City Police Detective Sara Pezzini’s life was forever fractured by her father’s murder. Cold, cunning, and hellbent on revenge, Sara now stalks a vicious criminal cabal beneath the city, where an ancient power collides and transforms her into something wild, magnificent, and beyond her darkest imaginings.
From co-creator MARC SILVESTRI (THE DARKNESS, CYBER FORCE, Batman and the The Dearly Duo)_ _and writer MARGUERITE BENNETT (Animosity, Batwoman, DC Bombshells) with artist GIUSEPPE CAFARO (Suicide Squad, Power Rangers, Red Sonja_) comes a bold new era of _WITCHBLADE!

Genres: Comics, Fantasy, Graphic Novels, Horror, Urban Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Published July 17, 2024

Reviews

[Clarissa Labue-Pham]

I am a huge Witchblade fan. I read the series in my youth and it's one of the comics that got me into art.

After the 2017 reboot of Witchblade I had little hope for this one to be honest, the writing and armor design were not good to be blunt. After reading this one though I'm reminded why I loved this series.

The writing is very good, I was instantly invested in Sara Pezzini again. This Sara seems to be a much darker and tougher version than the one I idolized as a kid but I'm not less interested in her story. This first issue moves like a movie. The pacing is so on point and the panels are laid out very well. The colors are beautiful and there's so much atmosphere.

That all being said, the art is not very good. Sara and all the other women in the book are pretty unappealing especially when the original was known for its fantastic art and beautiful women. I'm definitely disappointed in the interiors. There's no beauty and pezzini is the most unfeminine female in comics I've seen in years. The guys aren't hot at all like they were in the original either. The cover I got was beautiful though (the Natali Sanders one, her art is always phenomenal). I also liked the peak at Silvestris Sara Pezzini redesign. His work is still flawless nearly 3 decades later.

Over all, this is a very well written first issue and an interesting new take on Sara Pezzini and the Witchblade, but I had to take off a star because the art just isn't that good. If you're looking for a book with sexy women and swoon worthy guys you'll definitely have to look elsewhere.

[Mark]

So the Witchblade is back with Sara Pezzini in a modern reboot. I was a big fan of the original series way before life took over from my worry free days and the women who wanted to tell me what was suitable to read. My current beau does not care what I read and is not even surprised by the amount and strange variety I read. Even if she is afraid that our house might collapse one day due to the sfeer size of my book and comic collection.
Withblade the re-imagening is a job well done, the art not as brilliant as the original series, both those people were legends, True to the original meaning.
This is shedload better than the recent Pezzini-less Witchblade which was terrible. This New comic seems to be interesting and I look forward to the next installment.

[Roman Jones]

This was really good. I recently got into Witchblade through the Ron Marz run. I’ve enjoyed reading about Sara and her world. And I was excited to hear Top Cow was rebooting the character for a new generation. What Marguerite Bennett does masterfully is update the character while still preserving what makes Sara, Sara. The essence of Witchblade is still here with some new touches and hopefully more surprises on the way.

I like how this version of Sara Pezzini has a harder edge. She’s less quippy and sarcastic compared to Marz’s Sara, and more vengeful. Which makes sense with her new backstory and motivation. It’ll be interesting to see how her character evolves and whether she becomes more like her classic version or if she goes in a completely different direction. Either way, I’m here for the ride and look forward to future issues.

[Gail Williams]

I loved the original Witchblade as drawn by Michael Turner and I have most issues of the original series. So when I saw this at the comic shop today I had to have it.

Well this brings back some memories and some characters. And an interesting twist on the original story. The way that this is drawn I'm expecting it to be rather darker than the original.

The artwork is really good, though if I'm totally honest, I don't like it as much as the original, but there's a lot here to hold my interest so I will be reading on for the series.

[Sarah]

So, so good.

I’m relatively new to comics - although I’ve been reading them for a couple of years, I normally read bind-ups and omnibuses. In fact, I just went to my first comics store today. And I’m really, really happy I picked this little number up on a whim.

I know nothing about the world of Sara Pezzini, had heard nothing about Witchblade before, and simply thought the story was intriguing and the art phenomenal. I mean, a supernatural, superhero noir? I can’t not pick that up. And plus, it’s from Image Comics, who, as I’ve found, publish a lot of my favorites, including the Nocturnals series by Dan Brereton.

I loved this storyline! The story is compelling by itself, but the art and dialogue give it such a cinematic twist and feel that the pages literally come to life.

And the best part for me? It’s issue 1! I’ve never had the chance to follow a storyline all the way through before. I’m really excited to pick up some back issues of Sara Pezzini’s story and follow this Bennett line through!

[Wintry Monsters Press]

I always wanted to read Witchblade and The Darkness when I was growing up but only caught a few issues in the midst of reading Spawn and Tomb Raider. Fast forward to my 20s and I started reading comics again and actually exploring more than just a couple titles but I still didn't get around to Witchblade for some reason. So when I heard it was getting a reboot this year, I told myself I would check it out.

I dig the artwork here, which is very important for me to follow a series; a great story can go unread by me if I don't like the art. As for the story, it's too early to judge by this first issue because very little happens -- it's mostly a chase scene interrupting an undercover meeting -- but I like the set up. I'm definitely intrigued and ready for the next issue to see how it all continues.

[Javier Atapuerca]

Los ‘90 fueron unos años muy particulares en el mundo del cómic americano, y uno de sus productos paradigmáticos fue «Wichtblade», representando lo mejor y lo peor de esa época. Esta colección supone un relanzamiento del personaje, que aspira a llamar a nuevos lectores cogiendo lo bueno que tenía y corrigiendo lo malo.

En estos tiempos de «decompressive storytelling» es pronto aún para saber si lo logrará. Los dos primeros números que lleva son prometedores, eso sí. La guionista, Marguerite Bennett, es una garantía de que no se cometerán los excesos noventeros y que la historia tendrá sentido. Y el dibujo es, como corresponde, muy bueno.

Hay, por lo menos, esperanza.

[Nicolo]

This issue one of the new volume of Witchblade, its third, is already better than the issue one of the first volume. In fact, this issue alone is already better than the first twelve issues of the original Witchblade. The art is solid. It is in good hands of a veteran artist. The writing though, is the strongest suit of this book.

By the look of things, it looks to be a complete reboot of the series. The first issue contains the origin, like the original. However, this Sara Pezzini has a better backstory and more defined motivation. The whole body Witchblade armor is also different.

I kind of regret not starting on this earlier, but it looks like Top Cow has another topnotch book.

[Dustin Wayne Turner]

Welcome Back!

I’m a huge WitchBlade fan and so far I can say I can’t wait to see what they do next. Bringing back characters can be difficult and this is only issue number one, so we will have to wait and see what they do with them. The character designs are fantastic! Honestly I’m chomping at the bit to read more! And dedicating the book to Michael Turner was such a great thing to do!

[A. Rose]

Bennett never lets me down!

This is my first witchblade comic, but it is not my first Marguerite Bennett comic. I've read a lot of her work, so I was excited to pick this up. The story sets up the world quickly and sharply. The action is fun and I'm curious to see where it goes next!

[No_One]

Never read the original and if money wasn’t an object I would. Anyway, this was a really strong start. Many things happened without wasting time, plot was clear, dialogue was very good, and Bennett was clearly trying to convey a larger message about women’s bodies and identity and it went over well.

Love when authors have something to say and they aren’t annoying about it.

[Jason]

A stunning return

Sara is back!!! No this is not the same Sara\Witchblade we read in the 90s, it's something new and fresh but also feels very reminiscent of what came before! An outstanding first issue for what I hope is another long run of Witchblade!

[Yasser Maniram]

A good first issue full of content and good quality art but not likely to continue due to story.

[RalleyRagnarok]

This looks very promising. All old fans will miss Micheal Turner but the art in this looks very promising for the content. I am hoping for some good story in future comics.

[Tiffany]

I'm so excited about the new witchblade! I can't wait to see where this is going. :)

[Mikel Maeztu]

me sorprendió gratamente y me trajo recuerdos de cuando empecé con esta serie. La seguiré

[Javier Campos]

Back to the

[Dani]

I guess I’m old school Sara Pezzini. This was an okay overview of the original but not anywhere near the Michael Turner art for me.

[Julio Bonilla]

My name is Sara Pezzini.

[Rachael Miller]

This was not a subtle story about bodily autonomy and free will especially as it relates to women's issues. And I'm not mad at that. It was thoughtful in the right places and gory at the right times. The themes were delivered with the same brute force as the titular witchblade itself.

[Lizzy DeMarco]

So excited about this new run of Witchblade!